Chavela’s is the kind of Brooklyn restaurant that stays with you. Warm, colorful, and full of life, it feels like a place that’s been feeding people well for a long time , and it shows in every detail. We ordered the mole, taquitos de papa, and the chile relleno, and each dish felt comforting and deeply satisfying.
The mole deserves its own moment. Dark, glossy, and absolutely gorgeous, it carried that slow built depth that only comes from patience and tradition, rich without being heavy, layered, and unforgettable. The taquitos were perfectly crisp, the chile relleno was beautifully done, and everything tasted like it came from a kitchen that truly cares.
As of 12/10/25, they have a B rating. I saw this upon leaving…. If I knew this before, I would not have gone in. With that said…
We had the chips with three salsas… chips were hard, flat, and circular. Not ideal for dipping into the salsas which were a variety of traditional, a hot red, and a sweet green. The red salsa tasted like it was from a can. I coud be wrong though…
I ordered the steak enchilada which was a special. It came with a side of refried beans and rice. This was good but I would have gladly paid another $10 for a larger portion.
They did not have frozen margaritas so I settled for a beer. Disappointed but not the end of the world… right?
The wait staff was friendly and prompt. The ambience is really cool. The ceilings are tin, around 12-13 feet high, and the overall vibe is warm and inviting.
Don’t know if I would go back though.. probably not. Food was “mid” as the kids say and portions are small. Its definitely cheaper than most places.
Glad to see the surrounding area is building up though. There are other restaurants in the area as well so if that B rating doesn’t change, you have options.
3.5/5
This restaurant is really popular in the neighborhood and always crowded with long seating times. Luckily we went on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we were able to walk in a get seated right away at prime time 8pm.
Everyone in the party enjoyed our drinks and food, we celebrated my son’s bday. The waitstaff were also excellent!!!
Staff is friendly. The food (the special of the day, tacos de carnitas) were delicious and served with a lovely semi-spicy salsa and lime wedges. Despite the restaurant being very busy, our food arrived quickly. We were seated outside but heat lamps meant that it was still comfortable in fall, and it wasn't too loud like the interior of the restaurant. Recommend 👍